Growing Up Asian in Australia: Intro + Pigs Questions

Growing Up Asian in Australia: Intro + Pigs Questions

Introduction by Alice Pung

1. What were Asian-Australians referred to as when the author was growing up?

Power Points 

2. How does she interpret this title?

She understood this nickname as a slang word for referring to them as nerdy and dweeby "...i thought it was because we were smart and dweeby in a dynamic Microsoft way..."

3. What did this title actually refer to? Did the author find this demeaning? Why/why not?

The title actually meant that they literally looked like a powerpoint because of their facial features. The Author didn't understand it and thought that because it was 'white' and 'cute' it had little relevance to her. 

4. ‘All that untapped potential! All that electrifying brain power!’ What techniques are being employed by the author? How does they highlight he misunderstanding?

5. What did the teen author take away from teen fiction? What did she feel that she needed to do? Why? What does this say is essential to fitting in to a culture?

She suggested that she shouldn't read teen fiction because it basically suggests that teen fiction puts the idea into her mind that she needs to get plastic surgery.

6. Who are the authors that she turns to? Why?

7. In the third paragraph how does the author use repetition. How does it highlight the focus of this book?

8. What metaphor does the author use to highlight the writers and the writing style in the third paragraph?

9. Why does the author use a quote in the 4^th paragraph? What does it say about her reaction to the stories in the book?

10. On page 2 the author talks about the themes that she loosely choose for the collection. What are they and why is it ironic that they show up in this book?

11. At the bottom of pg 3 on to page 4 the author says that sociologists have described Asians as the ‘model minority’. What is meant by this? What difficulties arise out of this label for young Asian-Australians?

12. What are the editor’s hopes for the collection of stories?

Holocaust Art: "It Takes But One" by Elizabeth Denholm and Alyssa Dziurlaj

What visual techniques are employed in this painting?

Contrast, font use, Chiaroscuro, symbolism, the use of fore, middle and back ground, facial expressions, mood, colour, and symbols. 

How do these visual techniques highlight major thematic elements of holocaust art and literature?

Through the use of contrast, moods and colors, the picture is separated into two main sections - the red and the black. These colors are symbolic to the holocaust and specifically symbolise the mistreatment and persecution of the Jews from Nazi Germany. Color is also used to highlight another important theme of the Holocaust - Ignorance and the power of the voice. The text "it takes but one" highlights the state of mind of Germany during the Holocaust that Germans as well as Jews were to scared to speak up about the atrocities that were being taken place all of Europe - the gasing and killing of millions of Jews. The mood is dark and depressing and creates an allusion of hope and deviance from the Jews. This is represented by the dark paint that is seeping into the red paint that is defining the aggressive Nazi oppressors that is represented by the red. 


Through the use of facial expressions the painting also highlights another key theme of the holocaust, the mistreatment of the Jews and the loss of humanity on the part of the Germans. This is represented by the the star of david (Symbol of Judaism) because it is being 'held' by the Germans, and the fact that the Germans saw the Jews as not being 'people' so the picture also corresponds with this. 


Also by using fore/middle/ and back grounds its further supports the theme of the inhumanity and degrading of Jews. This is represented by having the Jews in the back ground, in a place deserved of anyone who doesn't belong to the master race of germany (in the Nazi's eyes). And also by the fact that the red paints or Germans are place in the forgound - a place only deserved for the master race.  

Holocaust Poetry #3: 'Daniel' by Laura Crist

How is juxtaposition used in this poem to highlight an important them of Holocaust literature?
The author uses juxtaposition to highlight the constant holocaust theme of mistreatment and brutality. The poem leaves you senseless and really demonstrates the microcosm of the entire Jewish mistreatment that occurred during the holocaust. Juxtaposition is used throughout the whole poem to symbolise the fragility of life and specifically highlight this holocaust them of mistreatment brutality and even the loss of humanity. 

How is descriptive language used to enhance the reader's reaction to the poem?

Daniel
	Laura Crist

And the child held her hand
A child tiny for almost eight,
Deep blue eyes that dominated his face,
When he explained new events to her,
     that funny doggy,
     that pretty rock,
And the freckles on his cheek,
No one saw a sunrise more perfect,
     to her,
She so vividly smells the fragrance of
     his hair,
     his ears,
     his breath in the morning
She vividly hears that little heartbeat,
     that was hers
     always hers,
     and the laughter,
     that raspy little laugh,
     when he caught her in a conundrum.
All this,
But this is merely the surface,
As she watches her little God sheared,
     and stripped,
For the gas chamber.

techniques

how used

how relates to theme